Silo construction.



P- A- DIETZ.

SILO CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, I916.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

PAUL A. DIETZ, 013 FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

SILO ooivs'rnuc'rroiv.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ne 13,1917.

Application filed November 7, 1916. Serial No. 129,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. DIETZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort 701th, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silo Construction, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention redates to silos and more particularly to cylindrical wooden stave silos; and the object is to provide single wall vertical cylindrical silos and to make silos which are strong and durable and economical. Another object is to provide means for taking up shrinkage between the staves and to keep the wall air and water tight. Another object is to provide means in connection with the wall construction that will hold the wall against collapsing or caving in when subjected to strong winds. The improved silo has the wooden construction which is a non-conductor of moisture, heat, and cold and has the improved construction by which the shrinkage can be remedied or taken up at any time. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body of a silo which shows the stave arrangement. Fig. 2 is a broken detail view of a wedge for taking up shrinkage, showing the devices for operating the wedge. Fig. 3 is a. plan view of a wedge, showing the clip attached to the wedge which is to be engaged by the cable for tightening the wedge. Fig. & is a horizontal section of a portion of the staves of the silo, showing the devices for sealing and for taking up the shrinkage. Fig. 5 is a similar view on' a larger scale. Fig. 6 illustrates a variation in the devices for taking up the shrinkage.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

One of the principal features of this improved silo is the cylindrical single vertical wall construction. The staves consist of timbers which are two by'tour inches in cross-section. The timbers 1 are set vertically and as the wall is cylindrical the inner edges of the timbers will be beveled sufficiently to make the timbers lie against each other throughout their entire length and width. All the timbers indicated by the character 1 have grooves 2 in each side thereof-and all the timbers indicated by the character 8 have grooves 2' in one side only. Bands 13 of ordinary construction hold the staves 1 in place. Sealing-strips or members 4 are inserted in the grooves of adjacent timbers and extend throughout the length of the timbers for the purpose of sealing the joints between the members. This construction is preferable to the tongue and groove construction because it is'less expensive and the grooves can be made deeper and the seal-, ing members will guard against shrinkage leaks. The construction of the two by four inch timbers with the manner of sealing makes an inexpensive structure which is relatively very strong. Of course heavier timbers may be used if desirable. Provision is made for guarding against leaks by shrinkage of the timbers and also against the timbers shrinking so much that-the wall would be liable to tall inwardly 0r clownwardly. The timbers 1 and 3 are kept -pressed against each other by wedges 5. The

timbers 3 are placed at intervals and a wedge 5 isplaced between two timbers 3. Provison is made for tightening the'tinibers whenever the timbers shrink. Cables 6 are anchored to some rigid structure in or on the ground and connected to the wedges 5 and provided with turnbuokles 7. The wedges 5 can be forced radially outward by the cables and 'turnbuckles by simply tightening the turnbuckles. The cables 6 thus serve as braces for the silo wall. In order to prevent angular corners about the inner edges of the wedges, the angles may be filled with vertical strips 8. In order to make a' horizontal pull on the wedges 5, crank brackets 9 are pivotally mounted in bearings 10 which are bolted to the timbers 3. The ends of the cranks 9 project far enough through the bearings 10 to provide for expansion of the members 3. The cables 6 run on top of the crank brackets 9 which will swing downwardly to some extent when the cables are tightened. The cables 6 may be attached to the wedges 5 in any suitable manner. The drawings show metal straps 11 bent to form an eye for the cables in the bight thereof and the two ends of the strap may be counter sunk in the sides of the wedge as shown in Fig. 3 and the ends of the strap driven into the wedge.

Such a construction, as is described'above, makes a desirable construction because it has the necessary strength andwill preventleaking caused by shrinkage and as a wooden construction is a non-conductor of'hea-t and 9 will force the bar 12 inwardly against the.

wedge 5.

hat I claim, is,

l. A cylindrical silo comprising timbers vertically disposed, sealing strips countersunk in adjacent faces of said timbers, bands for holding said timbers in place,.wedges interposed at intervals between the lateral edges of two timbers for taking up shrinkage, and adjustable cables operatively connected to said wedges for forcing the same between the timbers.

2. A cylindrical silo comprising vertical staves having vertical grooves in their adjacent faces, sealing strips filling said grooves, and wedges co-extensive in length with the staves interposed at intervals between the lateral edges of two staves and projecting therefrom.

3; A cylindrical silo comprisingvertical staves having vertical grooves in their adjacent faces, vertical sealing strips filling said grooves, vertical'wedges interposed at intervals between the lateral edges of two staves for taking up shrinkage of the staves, said wedges being coextensive in length with said staves, and means for forcing said wedges in between said staves.

at. A cylindrical silo comprising vertical staves having vertical grooves in their adjacent-faces, vertical sealing strips filling said grooves, wedges co-extensive in length with said staves interposed at intervals between the' lateral edges of two staves, and cables acting as braces for forcing said wedges between the staves for taking up shrinkage of the stays.

5. A cylindrical silo comprising vertical staves having vertical grooves in their adjacent faces, vertical sealing strips filling said grooves, wedges co-extensive. in length with said staves interposed at intervals between the lateral edges of two staves, cables acting as braces "for forcing the wedges between the staves, and means for causing a horizontal pull on said wedges.

6. A cylindrical silo comprising vertical staves having vertical grooves in their ad jacent faces, vertical sealing strips filling said grooves, wedges co-extensive in length with said staves interposed at intervals between two staves, metal straps attached to and countersunk in said wedges and provided with bights, and cables caught in said bights for forcing said wedges between the staves.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand this 23rd day of August, 1915. 7

PAUL A. DIETZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

